Clash brewing in the west Midlands?

We noted that several West Midlands councils want a judicial review.

Now the BBC reports that Staffordshire, Warwickshire and West Midlands police authority chairmen and chief constables met minister Tony McNulty to discuss force restructuring. They told the minister they were willing to pioneer mergers and become a "pathfinder" from which other police forces could learn!

But, the BBC reminds us, four councils and West Mercia Police are making legal moves to block the proposed new force.

The three chairmen and chief constables of Staffordshire, West Midlands and Warwickshire said, in a joint statement, they have a "strong desire" for a strategic police force in the region.

They said: "The current police force structures are not capable of delivering Neighbourhood Policing and, simultaneously, providing the protective services needed in the modern world to combat serious and organised crime, terrorism and critical incidents."

The three forces ready to sign up to a merger said there were "outstanding issues" over staffing and finance of the new body.

Have the public been consulted? And what do local MPs think? It would be interesting to know.